Device for tapering and thinning hair



Nov. 26, 1957 T.' GORE 2,814,112

DEVICE FOR TAPERING AND THINNING HAIR Filed Aug. 16, 1954 FEE-.5

.50 34 T155 La INVENTO/i WHOM/45 6054-".

United States Patent Office 2,814,112 Patented Nov. 26,1957.

DEVICE FOR TAPERING AND THINNING HAIR Thomas Gore, South Bend, Ind.Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 450,016

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-439) This invention relates to a device for taperingand thinning hair, and more particularly to a device usable by hairstylists for preparing and shaping womens hair for various styles ofhair-dresses or coifiures.

Hair dressers and barbers now have available as means for tapering andthinning Womens hair only razors and shears. The razors commonlyemployed for this purpose are the straight-edge type having a blademounted upon a carrier having guard teeth projecting beyond the cuttingedge of the blade. Thinning shears are provided with one or more notchedblades. Both' razors and thinning shears have only limited usefulnessfor tapering womens hair. Thus the thinning shears are intended for useprimarily by barbers working on short hair, and particularly mens hair,for the purpose of causing the hair to lie close tothe head, as isfrequently desired by men. Such shears are not satisfactory for use byhair stylists who are interested in tapering a comparatively long strandof hair in such a manner as to facilitate curling the strand, forexample, for the purpose of forming pin curls. The straight edged typeof razor can be used for tapering a long strand of hair but its use forthat purpose is quite difiicult and is characterized by a tendency ofthe hair to wedge and be caught between the razor blade and the guardteeth, with the result that the razor is quickly clogged and will notoperate satisfactorily until the clogged hair has been removed, as isrequired at frequent intervals.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a device of thischaracter which will overcome the disadvantages and limitations of thestraight edge razors and thinning shears in tapering and thinning hairas aforementioned.

A further object is .to providea device of this character with a handleto which is pivoted 'a blade carrier detachably mounting a bladchaving aprojecting cutting edge portion of interrupted form characterizedbynotch ing thereof.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having aholder for a double-edged blade whose edge portions project therefrom,said holder being provided with a handle and a finger guard facilitatinggripping and maneuvering of the device and positioning of the blade toselectively expose either of the'two edges thereof.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, comprising ablade carrier having aseparable part removable to accommodateapplication and removal of a blade, wherein the separable part hasa'finger-engaging projecting portion accommodating manipulation thereofrelative to the remainder of the carrier. I I

A further object is to provide a device of this character, including acarrier and a removable blade, wherein a protector is engageable withthe carrier and extends around the projecting edge of the blade so astoprevent accidental contact with the edge of theblade by'the user.

A further object is toprovidea device'ofithis character havingv a handleto whichacarrier'is pivoteisaidcarriet removably mounting "a doubleed'ge'd "blade, having one edge adapted to be projected within theoutline of the handle when the razor is folded to storage position, andsaid carrier mounting a protector fitting around the other projectingedge of the blade so that the cutting edges of the blade are bothwithdrawn to protected positions when the razor is not in use.

A further object is to provide a hair-thinning device with an exposedcutting edge interrupted by notches spaced apart and having blunt edgesso that hair entering said notches will not be cut.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my new hair-thinning device with parts brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1and illustrating the interlock between the parts of the blade carrier;

Fig. 5 is an inner face view of one part of ,the blade carrier;

Fig. 6 is a face view of one form of blade usable in the device;

Fig. 7 is an inner face view of the other part of blade carrier;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the .manner ,in which the devicemay be used for tapering astrand of hair;.

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a tapered strand of hair and showing indotted lines the manner in which the same may be curled.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the numeral 10 designates the handle of a razor of thestraight edge type which preferably is longitudinally slotted for themajor part ofits length so that it is formed of two longitudinallyextending substantially parallel halves interconnected at one end by aweb, and interconnected at the other end by a pivot pin 12. Pin 12extends through the parallel handle parts and through the intermediateportion of a shank 14 of a blade carrier, so that the end portion 16 ofsaid shank is positioned between .the opposed side portions of thehandle when the device. is in extended position, or at least a part ofthe main portion of the shank 14 is positioned between the handle partswhen the device is folded to collapsed position for storage in themanner well understood in this art.

The blade carrier is formed in two parts, as best illustrated in Figs.3, 4, 5 and 7, with the part 18 thereof being preferably mounted on theend of the shank 14. The part 18 is elongated and includes a centrallongitudinal portion 20 and marginal portions 22 offset from the centralportion to defineashallow substantially longitudinal recess 24 extendingfull length of the part 18 at its inner face. The inner faces .of themarginalplortions 22 are preferably coplanar, as illustrated in .Fig. 3.The outer surface of each part 18 .is preferably provided with a pair ofspaced longitudinal .grooves 26, preferably located adjacent thejunctions of the parts 20 and :22 and spaced apart as seen in Fig. 3,for purposes to betdescribed.

A finger guard 30 is formed atthe inneriendof 111C carrier part 13adjacent to-the shank :14, and preferably" consists of a pair oflaterally projecting 'parts30 .whose' surfaces adjacent the shank 14 arecurved .or rounded, as best seen in Fig. 1, to be presseduponbythmfingers of the hand which holds the 'device-in use,- as bet;we'ejhthe thumb and fore finger of the hand'. Tlie device ivill normally beheld in such a position that the handle will be pressed toward the palmof the hand by the little finger and the fourth finger, while the thumband index finger grip the shank 14 and bear against the finger guardportions 31).

A separable or removable portion 32 of the blade carrier is elongatedand has a central portion 34 extending longitudinally thereof andmarginal portions 36 whose inner surfaces are offset from the innersurface of the portion 34 so that a shallow groove 38 is formed in theinner surface of the part 32 substantially in register with the shallowgroove 24 of the part 18. Shallow longitudinal grooves 40 are formed inthe outer surface of the member 32 in parallel relation and in registerwith the shallow grooves 26 of the part 13 when the parts 18 and 32 arepositioned in register. Each of the parts 18 and 32 is rigid and is ofsubstantially the same width so that said parts register whensuperimposed upon each other. The longitudinal edges of the parts 18 and32 are of substantially the same length but the separable part 32 ischaracterized by a tapered projecting end portion 42 extendinglongitudinally thereof and bent laterally, as best seen in Fig. 2, andfor purposes to be described.

The plate portion 18 has a pair of hook portions formed therein spacedapart longitudinally thereof and in substantially longitudinal centralalignment therein. Each of these hook portions is preferably formedintegrally with the central portion 20 of the carrier part 18 by cuttingor stamping the same to define openings 44 from which tabs may bestruck. The tabs each include a portion 46 bent substantiallyperpendicularly from the carrier portion 20, as best seen in Fig. 4, andwhich terminate in hook portions 48 extending substantially parallel toand spaced from the carrier part 20 and projecting beyond the innercoplanar surfaces of the portions 22 of the carrier part 18. In otherwords, the hook part 46 extends across the shallow groove 24- andtherebeyond to position the terminal hook portion 48 spaced from theplane of the inner surfaces of the marginal carrier parts 22 a distanceless than the overall thickness of the carrier part 32. Each hookportion 48 preferably has an inwardly projecting dimple 50 formedtherein.

The central portion 34 of the separable carrier part 32 has a pair ofapertures 52 formed therein which are spaced apart a distance equal tothe spacing between the hook parts 43 and whose longitudinal dimensionis slightly greater than the length of the hook parts 48 so as toreceive said hook parts. The apertures 52 are spaced from the sidemargins of the carrier part 32 the same distance that the hook portions48 are spaced from the side margins of the portion 18 so that extensionof the hook portions 46, 48 through the apertures 52 serves to hold thecarrier parts 18 and 32 against lateral relative displacement with theirlongitudinal side margins substantially in register. The outer surfaceof the central portion 34 of the separable carrier part 32 is recessedat one end of each aperture 52 to provide a reduced thickness portion 54against which the inner surface of the hook 48 may bear, as bestillustrated in Fig. 4. This surface may have a small recess therein toreceive the dimple 50 and thus provide a spring interlock between theparts 18 and 32 to resist separation of the parts during normal usethereof.

The part 32 includes a substantially perpendicularly outwardlyprojecting portion 56 which may be pressed upon by the thumb of the handwhich holds the device for the purpose of sliding the separable carrierpart 32 longitudinally outwardly relative to the carrier part 18 toeffect disengagement of the interlock of the parts 18 and 32 by the hookmembers 46 and 48 seating in the recesses or sockets 54. It will beapparent that the projection 56 also accommodates sliding of theseparable part 32 to effect interengagement of the hook portions 48 withthe recesses 54 of the part 32.

A blade 60 of substantially rectangular form, as illustrated in Fig. 6,and of a length substantially equal to the length of the portions of thecarrier 18 from the free edge thereof to the finger projection 30, isformed of comparatively thin hardened sheet steel. The blade 66 has acentral longitudinal elongated opening 62 therein whose lengthpreferably is slightly greater than the spacing of the outer surfaces ofthe hook portions 46 and less than the spacing between the portion 46 ofthe right-hand book, as seen in Fig. 2, and the tip or free endportionof the hook part 48 at the left, as seen in Fig. 2. Thus theblade can be applied to the carrier part 18 by sliding the left-hand endthereof under the left hook portion 48 while in a position somewhattilted relative to the plane of the carrier 18 due to the fact that theright end of the blade bears on the right hook portion 48. The blade isthen shifted to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, until the right end ofthe slot slips around the right-hand hook, whereupon the blade comes torest in face contact with the inner surfaces of the marginal portions 22of the carrier 18. Thereupon, separable carrier portion 32 may beapplied to the carrier portion 18 by passing the hooks 48 through theapertures 52 and sliding the carrier portion 32 relative to the carrierportion 18 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The opposite longitudinal edges of the blade 60 constitute cuttingedges, and the overall width of the blade 60 is greater than the Widthof the carrier parts 18 and 32, so that the longitudinal edge portionsof the blade project beyond the longitudinal side edges of the carrierparts 18 and 32. The blade 60 is preferably doubleedged, and as hereillustrated, one edge portion 64 thereof is preferably a continuousstraight edge sharpened to effectively cut haid. The oppositelongitudinal edge portion 66 of the blade is likewise sharpened to cuthair and has a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spacednotches 68 interrupting the same. The spaces 68 may be of any selectednumber, width and spacing, depending upon the requirements of the user.Because of the fact that the blade 60 is of a width greater than thewidth of the carrier, so that the opposite longitudinal cutting edgesthereof project from the carrier, it is desirable to provide a protectorfor one or both of these projecting edges which is readily mounted orremoved and which will maintain its position during the time that thedevice is manipulated to use it. Such protector is illustrated in Figs.1 and 3 and is identified by the numeral 70. This protector is of alength substantially equal to or slightly greater than the length of theblade 60 and is formed of metal, plastic or other suitable material,bent transversely to desired configuration defining a longitudinallyuniform passage therethrough open at its opposite ends, and also open atone longitudinal side thereof as defined by lip portions 72 whichconverge inwardly toward their free edges and are spaced apart adistance less than the spacing between the bottom or inner edges of thelongitudinal grooves 26 and 40. The dimensions of the parts are suchthat the lip 72 will fit within the grooves 26 and 40 with a spring fit,and the transverse dimension of the part 71 is such that the partthereof adjacent to the exposed edge or". the blade to be confinedthereby is spaced from that blade. Also, if desired, a strip 74 of asoft material having a central groove therein may be mounted in such amanner as to receive the free edge of the blade as illustrated in Fig.3. The material 74 may constitute rubber or a soft plastic such as asoft vinyl chloride material. It will be apparent that the member 70protects the user against contact with one edge of the blade so that theuser need be careful only about the other edge of the blade which isbeing used. For purposes of storage the razor may be collapsed byswinging the handle 10 and the shank 14 to such a position as toposition one marginal edge of the blade within the handle, wherebycomplete protection of the user is provided because neither cutting edgeof the blade is exposed, one being confined within the slot of thehandle and the other being encased by the pro tector 70.

The device is illustrated in Fig. 1 in condition for use for thinningand tapering hair. One manner in which a strand 80 of hair may bethinned and tapered to substantially the form shown schematically inFig. 9 at 81, is by having the strand 80 held in extended position inone hand while the notched edge 66 of the blade of the device is appliedto the strand at spaced points. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 8, thenotched edge 66 of the blade may be applied to the strand 80 at spacedpoints along the length of the strand and extending either diagonally ofthe strand, as illustrated in Fig. 8, or substantially perpendicularlyto the strand. In either event the blade will contact only some of thehairs of the strand to sever the same, while other hairs will enter thenotches 68 of the blade. Fig. 8 the spacing of the points of contact ofthe blade with the hair strand is both longitudinal and transverse sothat if the strand is of greater width than the blade, when used asshown in Fig. 8, the strands of the lowermost portion shown in Fig. 8will be unsevered while at least a portion of the strands in theuppermost portions will be severed much shorter than the normal orstarting length of the strand. The result is to produce a taperedstrand, as illustrated in Fig. 9, which readily accommodates curling, asillustrated by the dotted line 82 in Fig. 9.

The foregoing operation can be accomplished quickly by simply touchingthe notched edge of the blade to the strand at spaced points thereofwhile the strand is being held substantially taut so that the Worker canobserve the progress of his work and the relations of the positions atwhich successive cuts are made. If the overall length of the strand isto be limited, the continuous edge 64 of the blade is readily positionedfor use by simply turning the shank 14 in the fingers to position andready for use, assuming, of course, that the guard 70 has been removedpreparatory to the operation.

Different types of hair require different shaping or tapering and,therefore, it may be desirable to provide a set of blades '60 with eachdevice. These blades can differ as to the spacing and the width of thenotches 68 and as to the total number of the notches. By having such asupply of blades, the hair dresser could observe the condition of thehair to be tapered or thinned with respect to its coarseness orfineness, and with respect to its natural curliness or other propertiesimportant to the accomplishment of a given coiffure, and then couldselect a blade which would produce the desired tapering or shaping mostexpeditiously. Substitution of one blade for another is accomplishedeasily by simply holding the device in one hand by means of the handle10 and the shank 14 and pushing upon the projection 56 of the retainerpart 32 to slide the same toward the left as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2and 4, until the notches 52 of the separable container part 32 registerwith the hook portions 48 of the carrier part 18, so as to facilitateseparation of said carrier parts and expose the inner surface of thecarrier 18 to facilitate manipulation of the blade existing therein torelease it from the books 48 and to permit substitution of a new blade.The separable carrier part 32 is then replaced by passing the hooks 48through the apertures 52 and sliding the carrier part 32 to the right bymeans of the member 56 while continuing to hold the device by means ofits handle and its shank 14. A spring snap interlock is afforded by thedimple 50 as illustrated in Fig. 4 to lock the separable part 32 inoperative position when the device is fully assembled as shown in Fig.2-

The projection of the end portion 42 of the separable carrier part 32both longitudinally relative to carrier part 18 and laterally relativethereto as best seen in Fig. 2, coupled with the rounding of the tipthereof as shown in Fig. 1, reduces the likelihood of hair being caughtbetween the two carrier parts and the blade at the outer end thereof bythe tendency of the projecting part 42 to deflect the hair clear of theend edge of the carrier part 18. The provision of the projections 30serves the dual function of increasing the maneuverability of the devicewhen held in the hand and also of protecting the fingers againstaccidental contact with the end of the blade 60 adjacent thereto. Inthis connection it will be observed in Fig. 1 that the blade terminatesspaced from the right-hand curved edges of the projections 30 which thefingers engage.

One of the important considerations in the use of this device is thefact that hair Will not catch therein to clog the device. For thispurpose the notches 68 will preferably be of such a depth that theyterminate at the edges of the carrier parts. Thus hair, which enters thenotches incident to the cutting stroke, is released from the notchesupon the releasing motion of the blade. The hair so cut may fall freely,but if it does not fall freely, because supported by adjacent uncuthairs, it does not interfere with successive trimming actions because ofits freedom to enter and release itself from the blade notches 68. Thisfreedom of the device from clogging permits rapid progress of the use ofthe device, avoids interference or obstruction with a view of the hairand the work done thereon by the hair dresser, and facilitates rapidaccomplishment of the tapering or shaping operation.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein, it will be understood that changes in the constructionmay be made within the scope of the appended claim without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A device for use by hairdressers to taper and thin hair strands,comprising a blade carrier formed of two separably connected partshaving straight blunt longitudinal edges substantially in register, anda blade clamped between said parts and having a longitudinal edgeprojecting laterally outwardly relative to said carrier parts andinterrupted by notches defining teeth therebetween, said notches beingof a depth to terminate substantially flush With the adjacent straightedges of said carrier parts, the projecting teeth of said blade havingouter substantially aligned hair severing sharp edges to sever spacedparts of a tautly held strand of hair against which said teeth arepressed crosswise of said strand, the edges of said blade defining saidnotches being blunt and receiving the remaining portions of said strandtherebetween without severing the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS979,100 Schwenzfeier Dec. 20, 1910 1,617,563 Baum Feb. 15, 19271,622,904 Crews Mar. 29, 1927 1,791,855 Taylor Feb. 10, 1931 1,823,808Thompson Sept. 15, 1931 2,049,718 Pearson Aug. 4, 1936 2,530,216 AppelNov. 14, 1950 2,591,014 Sansom Apr. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 776,867France Nov. 17. 1934

